A WOMAN has been banned from teaching for at least two years after forcing a pupil to wear a placard showing a hanged child.

Ama Bankah was a supply teacher at Shaw Primary, in South Ockendon, when she used the sick cartoon in February 2008 to punish a pupil for “inappropriate” behaviour, reducing him to tears.

Ms Bankah, 31, made pupils who did not sit down quietly enough when the school bell rang, wear the placard around their neck.

The cartoon child wore a uniform the same colour as theirs.

Ms Bankah, who lived in South Ockendon at the time, was caught out after an assistant reported the practice to the headteacher.

She was found “guilty of unacceptable professional conduct” by the General Teaching Council's professional conduct committee on Monday.

Committee chairman Sashi Sivaloganathan said: “Ms Bankah’s behaviour on February 21, 2008, was demeaning to the pupil concerned, caused him some harm and had the potential to harm other pupils.

“It was particularly inappropriate in a class of children with a significant proportion having special educational needs.” The committee heard the incident caused alarmed parents to consider taking their children out of the school.

Shaw headteacher Linzi Roberts-Egan confirmed Ms Bankah had been employed by the school through an agency from December 2007 until she was sacked.

Ms Sivaloganathan said: “Ms Bankah explained she had used the placard, showing a child with a noose around its neck, as a behaviour management technique.

“When the bell rang, every child was to be seated quietly and any child who refused to listen would be caught by the hangman, which was the name of the picture on the placard.”

The committee banned Ms Bankah from teaching for at least two years, after which she must re-apply to be re-assessed if she ever wants to teach again.

Ms Sivaloganathan added: “The committee considers Ms Bankah is not, at present, fit to be a registered teacher. Ms Bankah will have to demonstrate she has completed appropriate training and has gained insight, before she is permitted to return to work.”

Ms Bankah has 28 days to appeal.